Contributed by Karen Seeneevassen
The First Knowledges for younger readers series is a delightful and engaging reimagining of the adult First Knowledges series. The layout and illustrations are attractive and age appropriate, encouraging young readers to dip into the content of each chapter. The simple index provides easy access to information and the glossary highlights important terms and provides an explanation of these complex concepts in an easily understandable way.
Songlines, a CBCA Notable Book, opens with a welcoming introduction that invites the reader to “walk together through the oldest, biggest library of knowledge on Earth”. It continues to explain that the knowledge held in this enormous library are called Songlines. This immediately contextualises the concept for young readers. The authors encourage active reading with “Your Turn” pages, which prompts readers to participate in research or challenges that bring the information they are reading into a real-life context. This active approach to content supports an acceptance of the knowledge shared by the authors and offers an invitation for all young people to care for Country. Personal insights from the authors ensure that the information is situated in the present, while sharing traditional knowledges that cover art, history, song, science and culture.
Design & Building on Country, a more recent publication, shares some of the inventions created by First Nations Peoples. This book in the series looks at the concept of ‘Country’ and explains how Country is a place of deep knowledge and kinship. Once again, the authors share personal experience and anecdotes that makes the content easy to engage with for readers. This book encourages readers to understand and connect with Country. The authors start by explaining the Ancestral Heroes that made Country and then take the reader on a journey that shows us how we can design future where we can all belong to Country. This book has a straightforward approach which identifies the issues created by Colonial design and offers positive messages of collaboration to deliver sustainable and safe outcomes.
These books are recommended for primary school collections, however I will be including them in my senior collection as well, as they provide an accessible entry point for middle grade students to understand complex concepts in an engaging format.
Neale, M. & Kelly, L. (2023). Songlines. (Illustrations by Blak Douglas). Thames and Hudson, Australia.
Page, A. & Memmott, P. (2024). Design & Building on Country. (Illustrations by Blak Douglas). Thames and Hudson, Australia.